Colchester United ended the season on a winning note with a 1-0 win at Walsall, as U’s legend Karl Duguid made his final appearance for the club.

Craig Eastmond’s fortunate goal early in the second half proved the difference between the two sides at the Banks’s Stadium, as Joe Dunne’s side officially confirmed their place in the division for another season.

Clinton Morrison, who was Colchester’s captain on his final appearance for the club, saw his weak shot flew straight at goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell early on while at the other end, U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker pushed away James Baxendale’s curling shot for a corner.

The closest Colchester came to taking the lead in the first half was after 17 minutes when O’Donnell pushed away Gavin Massey’s curling shot, following some neat footwork by Marcus Bean.

Walker fumbled Sam Mantom’s fierce 25-yard shot before he eventually gathered the ball, in what was a largely uneventful first half which proved to be typical end-of-season fare.

Colchester made a double substitution at half-time, with Frankie Kent handed his senior debut and Drey Wright also introduced in place of Magnus Okuonghae and Marcus Bean.

And the U’s took the lead seven minutes into the second half when Eastmond blocked James Chambers’ attempted clearance and the ball sailed past O’Donnell and into the net.

Duguid came on for Dominic Vose with 18 minutes to go to a rapturous reception from the travelling fans, for his final-ever playing appearance for the U’s.

Walker made a good stop to deny Walsall skipper Andy Butler and Morrison saved substitute Amadou Bakayoko’s effort off the line in the final few minutes, as Colchester ended the season on a high. For five pages of coverage of the U’s game at Walsall, see Monday’s Daily Gazette.

Great to see a winning end to the season in the last two games. Certainly think it's no coincidence that we've got these results with Okuonghae having no involvement in the Brentford game and only a half in this one. His "get the ball and lump it up the pitch" style affects the teams attacking performances and I hope we see some new defensive faces, especially Wynter, and a relatively injury free season next year to see us move up the table!

Up the U's! So relieved we stayed up in the end. Think that could've been a lot of trouble for our club.

Great to see a winning end to the season in the last two games. Certainly think it's no coincidence that we've got these results with Okuonghae having no involvement in the Brentford game and only a half in this one. His "get the ball and lump it up the pitch" style affects the teams attacking performances and I hope we see some new defensive faces, especially Wynter, and a relatively injury free season next year to see us move up the table!
Up the U's! So relieved we stayed up in the end. Think that could've been a lot of trouble for our club.bell103

With Tranmere and Carlisle both losing; the U's were actually safe (just as I had predicted) three weeks ago on a record low 47 points + goal difference. But two fantastic results have allowed us to end the season in a very creditable 16th place.

Yes, Medicated Soap, that does mean EIGHT teams were ultimately proven worse than Colchester United in 2013-14. 16th is also merely one place lower than in Phil Parkinson's last season prior to promotion; average home gates have also risen.

Life's becoming ever better as a U's fan now we are once again looking down upon so many, and although we did flirt with the relegation zone, not once were we ever in the bottom four. It was just an unkind sequence of fixtures churned out by the league's computer plus the problems of water logged pitches and postponements that put us in apparent peril.

Frankie Kent made an excellent debut and the Academy is starting to look like a conveyor belt churning out these young stars. It wasn't the greatest game that I have witnessed, but well done Joe Dunne. Now go and enjoy the Summer with your family.

With Tranmere and Carlisle both losing; the U's were actually safe (just as I had predicted) three weeks ago on a record low 47 points + goal difference. But two fantastic results have allowed us to end the season in a very creditable 16th place.
Yes, Medicated Soap, that does mean EIGHT teams were ultimately proven worse than Colchester United in 2013-14. 16th is also merely one place lower than in Phil Parkinson's last season prior to promotion; average home gates have also risen.
Life's becoming ever better as a U's fan now we are once again looking down upon so many, and although we did flirt with the relegation zone, not once were we ever in the bottom four. It was just an unkind sequence of fixtures churned out by the league's computer plus the problems of water logged pitches and postponements that put us in apparent peril.
Frankie Kent made an excellent debut and the Academy is starting to look like a conveyor belt churning out these young stars. It wasn't the greatest game that I have witnessed, but well done Joe Dunne. Now go and enjoy the Summer with your family.Noah4x4

Glad the U’s ended the season on a high with a win and an extremely flattering sixteenth placed finish! Well done to young Frankie Kent for making his senior début, although I agree with angryman a few more youngsters might have been blooded in a meaningless end of season game. Good for Karl Duguid, a loyal servant of the club that he rounded off his playing career with one final substitute appearance.

I see that my prediction that 50 points would be needed for survival this season has been fully vindicated! The 47 points total that some misguided bloggers like Noah4x4 suggested would be enough proved hopelessly optimistic as Tranmere found to their cost this afternoon!

It remains to be seen whether this season’s survival proves to be merely a stay of execution for 11 months... Unless there is a U-turn in the severity of the proposed cuts to the first team playing budget, which seems unlikely at this juncture, then twenty-fourth place has our name on it next season for sure. Let’s be clear the planned severe cuts to the first team budget are a direct result of Cowling moving cash from the first team to the academy. Just to debunk the propaganda we already fully comply with Financial Fair Play regulations with some considerable ease; Dunne will be operating on a much smaller budget season next season as the Academy has been prioritised over the fortunes of the first team.

As for our Category Two funded academy winning the Category 3/4 regional league and national cup against relatively impoverished rivals well that was to be expected just as Wolves winning League One this season was. However at the higher level, provided we actually attain Category Two status this summer, the U18/U21’s teams will be back to being the leagues whipping boys.

Glad the U’s ended the season on a high with a win and an extremely flattering sixteenth placed finish! Well done to young Frankie Kent for making his senior début, although I agree with angryman a few more youngsters might have been blooded in a meaningless end of season game. Good for Karl Duguid, a loyal servant of the club that he rounded off his playing career with one final substitute appearance.
I see that my prediction that 50 points would be needed for survival this season has been fully vindicated! The 47 points total that some misguided bloggers like Noah4x4 suggested would be enough proved hopelessly optimistic as Tranmere found to their cost this afternoon!
It remains to be seen whether this season’s survival proves to be merely a stay of execution for 11 months... Unless there is a U-turn in the severity of the proposed cuts to the first team playing budget, which seems unlikely at this juncture, then twenty-fourth place has our name on it next season for sure. Let’s be clear the planned severe cuts to the first team budget are a direct result of Cowling moving cash from the first team to the academy. Just to debunk the propaganda we already fully comply with Financial Fair Play regulations with some considerable ease; Dunne will be operating on a much smaller budget season next season as the Academy has been prioritised over the fortunes of the first team.
As for our Category Two funded academy winning the Category 3/4 regional league and national cup against relatively impoverished rivals well that was to be expected just as Wolves winning League One this season was. However at the higher level, provided we actually attain Category Two status this summer, the U18/U21’s teams will be back to being the leagues whipping boys.Medicated Soap

Nice try Noah, we only finished in a false position because Brentford didn’t have the professionalism to turn up last weekend, no credit to Joe Dunne.

Let’s remind ourselves of the 2004/05 season...

• We gained 59 points (the same points tally as our 2011/12 10th placed finish under John Ward);
• Finished the season 11 games unbeaten;
• With a goal difference of +10;
• Reached the 4th round of the FA Cup;
• Reached the 3rd round of the League Cup.

A world apart from this season’s exploits... Sometimes you finished lower in the table than you deserve like in 2004/05, other times you finish in a higher position than you deserve like 2011/12 and 2013/14.

If any team in the bottom half of the league table this season is predisposed to make upward progress it is Oldham Athletic!

Nice try Noah, we only finished in a false position because Brentford didn’t have the professionalism to turn up last weekend, no credit to Joe Dunne.
Let’s remind ourselves of the 2004/05 season...
• We gained 59 points (the same points tally as our 2011/12 10th placed finish under John Ward);
• Finished the season 11 games unbeaten;
• With a goal difference of +10;
• Reached the 4th round of the FA Cup;
• Reached the 3rd round of the League Cup.
A world apart from this season’s exploits... Sometimes you finished lower in the table than you deserve like in 2004/05, other times you finish in a higher position than you deserve like 2011/12 and 2013/14.
If any team in the bottom half of the league table this season is predisposed to make upward progress it is Oldham Athletic!Medicated Soap

Well done col u. A very pleasing end to the season. It is good to see Colchester finish in a pleasing 16th position given our recent struggles.
As Noah predicted, 47 points would have been enough this season, but also finishing above 7 other teams is what I would consider attractive.

Let's hope Joe and the boys return in a month or 2 for training with a couple if youths added to the roster and a new full back. That is all.

Well done col u. A very pleasing end to the season. It is good to see Colchester finish in a pleasing 16th position given our recent struggles.
As Noah predicted, 47 points would have been enough this season, but also finishing above 7 other teams is what I would consider attractive.
Let's hope Joe and the boys return in a month or 2 for training with a couple if youths added to the roster and a new full back. That is all.super waluigi

It was great to end the season on a winning note even if the winning goal was a gift in a truly end of season affair. Think we are over due a more comfortable season next time around, but I doubt we'll get it. However, I wish ALL fellow bloggers an enjoyable summer before we start all over again in 3 months time.

It was great to end the season on a winning note even if the winning goal was a gift in a truly end of season affair. Think we are over due a more comfortable season next time around, but I doubt we'll get it. However, I wish ALL fellow bloggers an enjoyable summer before we start all over again in 3 months time.BlueandWhiteBaz

Great that this win put the U's into a respectable position well clear of the drop zone.
As it turned out, Noah was right: 47 points, with a much better goal difference, would have been enough to keep us up. But much better to be six points clear of Tranmere Rovers, and three points clear of Notts County.
Well done the U's, and especially Karl Duguid. Here's to a better season in 2014/15.
Meanwhile, have a great summer everyone, enjoy the cricket, enjoy the World Cup, and let's wish good luck to the players who are leaving the U's.

Great that this win put the U's into a respectable position well clear of the drop zone.
As it turned out, Noah was right: 47 points, with a much better goal difference, would have been enough to keep us up. But much better to be six points clear of Tranmere Rovers, and three points clear of Notts County.
Well done the U's, and especially Karl Duguid. Here's to a better season in 2014/15.
Meanwhile, have a great summer everyone, enjoy the cricket, enjoy the World Cup, and let's wish good luck to the players who are leaving the U's.Boris

This game was nothing to shout about, 'still' the win is a nice way to end
The season. So pleased Col' U will still be playing Lg 1 football next season. All we need now is for 'cat 2' status awarded to our academy. Earlier I predicted col' u needed to take points from Tranmere, Crewe, and Oldham, as we would get nothing from Brentford, or Walsall. Just goes to show, Med

This game was nothing to shout about, 'still' the win is a nice way to end
The season. So pleased Col' U will still be playing Lg 1 football next season. All we need now is for 'cat 2' status awarded to our academy. Earlier I predicted col' u needed to take points from Tranmere, Crewe, and Oldham, as we would get nothing from Brentford, or Walsall. Just goes to show, Med25414nora

❄Nicky wrote:
I don't get it how was noah right??? 47 48 50 points wouldn't have been enough to keep tranny up problem with fantasy football is if our scores change why can't other teams???

Because in hindsight, we could have lost to Brentford and Walsall and still stayed up on a very low 47 points!!!! It really is not that hard.
I know that you like to back 'the preacher of hate' medicated soap, but try and post stuff about the thread and not just buddying up.

[quote][p][bold]❄Nicky[/bold] wrote:
I don't get it how was noah right??? 47 48 50 points wouldn't have been enough to keep tranny up problem with fantasy football is if our scores change why can't other teams???[/p][/quote]Because in hindsight, we could have lost to Brentford and Walsall and still stayed up on a very low 47 points!!!! It really is not that hard.
I know that you like to back 'the preacher of hate' medicated soap, but try and post stuff about the thread and not just buddying up.super waluigi

2 from 2 !! i cannot believe my eyes, Although maybe a "poor" season, we did stay up (more comfortably than last) like i had said months ago when people were already commenting on life in league 2.

Lets go away over the summer and build further onto the foundations that Dunne and Cowling have put down. A Striker is a must, and a commanding CB for me would make a massive difference. (Wynter)

I wonder how many of you who threw your toys out the pram will be back for next season to instill further obstructive views ?

2 from 2 !! i cannot believe my eyes, Although maybe a "poor" season, we did stay up (more comfortably than last) like i had said months ago when people were already commenting on life in league 2.
Lets go away over the summer and build further onto the foundations that Dunne and Cowling have put down. A Striker is a must, and a commanding CB for me would make a massive difference. (Wynter)
I wonder how many of you who threw your toys out the pram will be back for next season to instill further obstructive views ?hungrystudent

❄Nicky wrote:
I don't get it how was noah right??? 47 48 50 points wouldn't have been enough to keep tranny up problem with fantasy football is if our scores change why can't other teams???

47 points were no good to Tranmere because of their heavily negative goal difference. 47 points would have been good enough for us because we had a much better goal difference, so we would have finished above them. Did they teach arithmetic at your school?

[quote][p][bold]❄Nicky[/bold] wrote:
I don't get it how was noah right??? 47 48 50 points wouldn't have been enough to keep tranny up problem with fantasy football is if our scores change why can't other teams???[/p][/quote]47 points were no good to Tranmere because of their heavily negative goal difference. 47 points would have been good enough for us because we had a much better goal difference, so we would have finished above them. Did they teach arithmetic at your school?Boris

❄Nicky wrote:
I don't get it how was noah right??? 47 48 50 points wouldn't have been enough to keep tranny up problem with fantasy football is if our scores change why can't other teams???

47 points were no good to Tranmere because of their heavily negative goal difference. 47 points would have been good enough for us because we had a much better goal difference, so we would have finished above them. Did they teach arithmetic at your school?

Far too simplistic! Results in the other matches going against Tranmere, thus their players effectively knowing the game was up, was the key factor in their late collapse at home to Bradford. In your cockeyed scenario had there been another team on 47 points losing, the whole atmosphere and dynamics of the Tranmere game would’ve changed and they’d have more than likely held out for a win or draw with something to play for in the latter stages of their game rather than nothing. Therefore clearly the premise that we would’ve survived on 47 points is plainly ludicrous.

The fact is we got 53 points, thanks to Brentford not bothering to show up and a freak goal at Walsall; therefore we were irrelevant to the final relegation outcome. As I correctly asserted 50 points were required for League One survival this season.

Trying to rewrite history will never validate Noah’s failed predictions; never mind other peoples arithmetic Boris, clearly your logic hasn’t progressed beyond that of a five-year-old child. ^_^

[quote][p][bold]Boris[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]❄Nicky[/bold] wrote:
I don't get it how was noah right??? 47 48 50 points wouldn't have been enough to keep tranny up problem with fantasy football is if our scores change why can't other teams???[/p][/quote]47 points were no good to Tranmere because of their heavily negative goal difference. 47 points would have been good enough for us because we had a much better goal difference, so we would have finished above them. Did they teach arithmetic at your school?[/p][/quote]Far too simplistic! Results in the other matches going against Tranmere, thus their players effectively knowing the game was up, was the key factor in their late collapse at home to Bradford. In your cockeyed scenario had there been another team on 47 points losing, the whole atmosphere and dynamics of the Tranmere game would’ve changed and they’d have more than likely held out for a win or draw with something to play for in the latter stages of their game rather than nothing. Therefore clearly the premise that we would’ve survived on 47 points is plainly ludicrous.
The fact is we got 53 points, thanks to Brentford not bothering to show up and a freak goal at Walsall; therefore we were irrelevant to the final relegation outcome. As I correctly asserted 50 points were required for League One survival this season.
Trying to rewrite history will never validate Noah’s failed predictions; never mind other peoples arithmetic Boris, clearly your logic hasn’t progressed beyond that of a five-year-old child. ^_^Medicated Soap

As Einstein said, "If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts". In essence we ended up on 53 points, irrespective if you delete the first 2 games this season from the history books. There's an apposite one about facts being stubborn, but statistics more pliable and we know politicians are excellent at those!

We can go around in circles about this season, which will do no good as the 2 opposite views will never converge, but what we do know is that next season means a difficult financial situation for all clubs in our division, including the likes of Bristol City and Sheffield Utd, although the latter will surely be a good automatic promotion choice given their resources on an average of 17,506. Coventry are in a right pickle on 2,348 but of course it's based on revenues, not just gate receipts, and they can punch a bit higher than us and have had a larger revenue stream in the past couple of seasons but that is being reduced substantially.

The 5% reduction means we have to deal with a reduced budget of circa £160k, assuming our revenues stay at a level of £3.2m which is a "guestimate" based on 2012 figures. Of course there are ways of gerrymandering revenues, or are there? Man City may possibly be fined £50m for having combined losses of the past 2 seasons over £149m and face reductions in their Champions League squad numbers too.

With Morrison going, and Wilson today, that must relieve us of over £260k p/a I guess, possibly more. I'd like to know how much we are spending on the 1st team squad, but what is undoubtedly true is that we are probably 2 years ahead of ourselves in the youth development timeline to 1st team squad.

2014/15 season is probably the defining one for this strategy as similar sized teams face that balancing choice we've already made and we'll have at least 5 young players that will play a real part in our fixtures. What you can say is we have a plan, and agree / disagree with that, but we've put down the marker and I believe we'll improve results and league position on that basis.

Up the U's!

As Einstein said, "If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts". In essence we ended up on 53 points, irrespective if you delete the first 2 games this season from the history books. There's an apposite one about facts being stubborn, but statistics more pliable and we know politicians are excellent at those!
We can go around in circles about this season, which will do no good as the 2 opposite views will never converge, but what we do know is that next season means a difficult financial situation for all clubs in our division, including the likes of Bristol City and Sheffield Utd, although the latter will surely be a good automatic promotion choice given their resources on an average of 17,506. Coventry are in a right pickle on 2,348 but of course it's based on revenues, not just gate receipts, and they can punch a bit higher than us and have had a larger revenue stream in the past couple of seasons but that is being reduced substantially.
The 5% reduction means we have to deal with a reduced budget of circa £160k, assuming our revenues stay at a level of £3.2m which is a "guestimate" based on 2012 figures. Of course there are ways of gerrymandering revenues, or are there? Man City may possibly be fined £50m for having combined losses of the past 2 seasons over £149m and face reductions in their Champions League squad numbers too.
With Morrison going, and Wilson today, that must relieve us of over £260k p/a I guess, possibly more. I'd like to know how much we are spending on the 1st team squad, but what is undoubtedly true is that we are probably 2 years ahead of ourselves in the youth development timeline to 1st team squad.
2014/15 season is probably the defining one for this strategy as similar sized teams face that balancing choice we've already made and we'll have at least 5 young players that will play a real part in our fixtures. What you can say is we have a plan, and agree / disagree with that, but we've put down the marker and I believe we'll improve results and league position on that basis.
Up the U's!SuperU's